Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 83

Jaina Acara: Siddhanta aura Swarupa
We can divide lay votaries under three heads :
I. Jaghanya-Is one who, even when incited to attack does not indulge in any killings. He never touches wine and meat. He has perfect faith in 'Namaskara' i.e. incantatory salutation.
II. Madhyama He has implict faith in gods, teachers and righteousness. He is ever averse to gross violence. He does not touch wine and meat and his life is resplendent with compassion, bashfulness, graveness, tolerance and the like. Every day he does six kinds of actions.
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A. Devotion to gods. He acknowledges an omniscient as his adorable god. The god is not vitiated by ignorance, sleep, falsity, non-abstinence from sin, attachment., aversion, laughter, liking, disliking, fear, grief,disgust, passion, power-obstructing karma which hinders charity, profit, enjoyment and power. He is possessed of merits as follows:
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(1) Limitless knowledge (2) boundless faith (3) illimitable conduct (4) limitless strength (5) unlimited bliss (6) divine voice (7) halo
(8) throne of crystal
(9) Asoka tree
(10) showering of flowers
(11) gods' drums as also umbrella flapper made of the tail of a yak. B. Guru eva He respects his teacher who should be a strict observer of the Five Vows, who should have renounced gold and woman and then serves him with food, drinks all that is relished, cloth, utensils, blanket, cloth used for wiping, a slab to support the back, a bed for passionless demise and curative medicines.
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C. Svadhyāya-i.e. self-study which admits one into the self.
D. Self-restraiant-He tries to win over passions to attain the passionless state.
E. Austerities-He does something daily in this direction-be it eating less than one's fill, abandament of stimulating or delicious food to bring a shine in his life.
F. Charity-From his well-earned income he donates daily according to his capacity.
Utkrsta, i.e. outstanding-He observes special vows which are eleven in number. In the evening of his life when the body is emaciated, he prepares himself for a passionless voluntary death.
Lay votaries are knowledgeable and of good conduct. They are imbued with faith. They are dutiful, self-restrained and estimable citizens.